Monday, December 1, 2014

The First Light of Advent

The first light of Advent is the light of stonesThe light that shines in crystals in seashells and in bones

The second light of Advent is the light of plantsGreen plants that reach up to the light and in the breezes dance

The third light of Advent is the light of beastsThat shines in all creatures in greatest and in least

The fourth light of Advent is the human lightThe light of hope and of thought, to know and do what’s right

~ Rudolf Steiner ~

As a new mom, six years ago, I wasn't quite sure how we, as a family, would handle the holidays, and since Reece was only 7 weeks old at his first Christmas, Justin and I chose not to do anything. We would be spending the day at my parents place and we felt like that was enough. I also wanted time to think about how we would celebrate and what traditions we would bring into our new family of three.

Fast forward six years, and we feel like we are building some wonderful family traditions. We took our time, adding things slowly, changing things here and there if they didn't feel right, and through all of it, keeping things slow and simple.For the last two years the Advent gnome has been making an appearance, and Reece was so happy to see him return yesterday. Our Advent wreath has always graced our table, each candle being lit as we move through the weeks of Advent and the corresponding verse from above said. It has been a lovely tradition, but this year, I wanted to change things a little bit.

I came to Justin with an idea to make an Advent spiral for our table, as well as carvings of Joseph, and Mary, to journey along the spiral each day as we light the candles. I am so pleased with how it turned out, and last night we lit the first candle, and added our stones and seashells to the spiral. It was perfect, and so very beautiful.

This year I have also been trying to figure out a way to have Reece actively involved in this journey, and it finally came to me on the weekend. I set up a spiral on our nature table, made from rocks. The spiral will end at a soon to be created image of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. Each day of Advent, before Reece opens his scroll for the day, he will replace the next rock in the spiral with a star, slowly lighting the way to Christmas Day. I honestly have no idea how this idea came to me, but it felt so right, and I feel offers him a wonderful visual of our Advent journey, along with our candle spiral.

Our nature table will be added to each week during Advent corresponding to the verse above. The first week is minerals, hence the spiral made from rocks. The second week is plants, and we will add some plants to the table. The third week is animal, and some lovely wooden animals will be added. And finally, the fourth week is human, and will include the addition of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.

During Advent we will also be reading The Light of the Lantern, Stories for Advent. It came highly recommended to me last year, but unfortunately was delayed in arriving and didn't make it in time for Advent. So, I tucked it away for this year, and I actually think Reece is in a much better place now for understanding these daily stories.

This year we are mixing some old traditions with some new ones. It feels right, for us, and I am very much looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds.

48 comments:

Love your spiral! Here with us we keep it to the 4 candles only. I don't want to give it that much of attention, as I know it will affect the peacefullness in the family. My daughter thrives by order and a calm life, without that many things to have to look forward to. Making events too big, gives tension. She loves the four candles and the tree we will be decorating in a few weeks time. For now we Dutchies look forward to celebrating Sinterklaas (who is like the brother of Santa Clause, who brings gifts dec 5th.) This is already a very big thrill to her and her brother. After that we will keep a few days of rest and peace in our little family before opening the christmasseason. Love from Patricia

Wishing you all the best too, Kim and to your family! Nice to hear you let out the shoes on friday. With us here we left out the shoe a few times since mid november when Sinterklaas arrived, huge tv event here (these shoes get filled with some sweets and or a small gift), we try to keep this to a minimum. On friday coming he will leave us the bag with the real gifts in the big bag. We try to buy or make one bigger gift ( I made a big dollhouse with stables e.g. for our daughter) and then put in a few useful ones likes pyjamas. I really don't like all the commercial ideas of buying big things, I more like the less is more idea. I guess you feel the same way. Love Patricia

I love this- I told my husband about the gnome and spirals last night and that I wanted to try it, but not sure I could get it ready, well today. It may have to wait til next year. Did you make the gnome and scrolls yourself?

Thanks! It can be a challenge to get things ready on short notice, they can always wait. Yes, I made the gnome and the scrolls. The scrolls are just paper, I write a little note and then roll them up, and tie them with yarn.

On a side note, if you want to incorporate it, keep it simple and write up a scroll each night for the next morning. They can be simple things, and still bring in the same anticipation and joy to the season.

Beautiful spiral--I can smell the beeswax from here! In our house, we celebrate advent through books--opening up one holiday story each evening for bed, leading up to "The Night Before Christmas" on the night before Christmas. Even though my kids are outgrowing picture books, we still enjoy snuggling together and reading our old favorites.

Such beautiful traditions Kim. We put up a Jesse Tree and have readings every morning, then at night we light the candle on our Advent wreath and have a little reading. I love your Advent spiral, if I had more than one year left with a child at home I would have one too. Happy December.

Lovely tradition (s) Kim and I think so important for child and parent, it makes things so much more special. We always cut our tree down in the forest, this year it was Foghorns turn, past down from Jules and Auggie. He was pretty proud.

Oh that spiral!! I love it. This year I want to emphasize the Advent season. It's something that is emphasized each Sunday at Church, but my goal is to carry that feeling through the week here at home and Ree is old enough now to get it. So we will light the advent candles each night at supper and say a prayer together. I also have a few surprises up my sleeve for St. Nicholas' Feast and I really want to celebrate the Solstice this year. Thank goodness I have a few weeks left! Oh one more thing I have done is put together a little basket of goodies, one thing for each day from now until Christmas. Just some small crafts, some outside activities, making popcorn garlands, having a hot chocolate, popcorn & movie afternoon with the cousins, etc. Simple things that will help with the joy of the season!

Thank you Jen. Sounds like you have some lovely things planned. It is nice as our children get older and we can bring a little more to the holidays. I love your last line, it is what we are all about here. Enjoy the season my friend. xo

Just beautiful! The spiral s lovely. Great job to your talented husband. Really!Advent is new to us this year. I was never into Advent because as I child, all it was ever to me was sweets every morning. I didn't want that for my children so we skipped it all together. We made it our own this year with a beautiful hanging calendar my husband made. We have also chosen a mostly homemade/handmade and experience based Christmas this year. I say mostly because my arm just barely feeling better now stopped me in many if my "making" so a few little store bought treats were added. But we are looking forward to a simpler time this year... hoping to make it simpler and simpler a time goes by! :-)

We are keeping the old traditions this year. I'm trying to keep this time of year as low key as possible. Do your candles last though the whole 25 days? We have a spiral for solstice and the first candles never last all twenty 21 or so days.

That is so so so beautiful. I also love the way you got into this story and celebration. And do you know what? You inspired me a lot for this year. I was so fed up with advent calendar. This year we made our little spiral and take it another way for the time to Christmas. And the kids were really happy about it. I could feel peace around... just what I needed!

This is so wonderful. I had so many ideas for this year and not too many made to fruition. I did get the same book and we are reading through it as well. I love the spiral with rocks and then adding a star. And your advent spiral with candles is so beautiful!

We read a picture book each day as well and always add a new book each year.

beautiful way to prepare for Christmas day. I have an advent calendar that my mother sewn for me when we were first married. My children would fight over whose turn it was and now I am the only one placing an ornament up each morning-I do miss those arguments :)

Thank you. Yes, on the slow part, it has been so lovely to see it all evolve and grow, as we have. We really had no idea how we wanted to approach the holidays, we needed time to think about it. I am so glad we took the time, and now, we have some lovely traditions that I feel pretty darn good about.

I agree with all, that this is really such a beautiful Advent Spiral and figures of Mary and Joseph as they travel on their way. I also really love the tactile experience of Reece moving the star--this would be great for my boys who really need to feel and touch things to understand them. The Advent Calendar, handmade by a beloved godparent, is wonderful--but so sight oriented I think it sometimes leaves them craving for more.

I think what I love so much about both of these is the thought and consideration that went into them. At times, as a Waldorf teacher, I realize I am falling back on adopted traditions instead of really examining our family's needs. Just seeing your create your own way is so inspiring!

Thank you Coco. Each night as we light another candle the spiral gets more beautiful. We are all so pleased with it. And the rock spiral has been amazing, Reece loves it. I think he might actually enjoy replacing the rock with the star more than opening the scroll :) It has really brought the experience to him in a way I never expected. So very happy with how it turned out.

Thank you for those very lovely and kind words, they mean a lot coming from you my friend. You have made me smile this evening, and warmed my heart. Big hugs.

LOVE this, Kim. the spiral is so beautiful. if your husband feels like making others and offering them for sale, I would very gladly purchase one to use in years to come. I've been looking for a way to do something similar to what you are doing with the stone spiral- something like a Mary's star path, but just a tad different. it is lovely.xo

What a beautiful Advent Spiral - where did you get it? We are adding a new tradition this year - my eldest two are making a wooden Advent Spiral with Grandpa in his workshop. It will take the place of our simple 4-candle wreath later in the Advent season. Also adding new books every year to our ever-growing stack of Christmas-season after-dinner reading.

Welcome to Mothering with Mindfulness. My name is Kim, Waldorf inspired homeschooling mama to one, writer, nature lover, dreamer, and lover of all things handmade. This is my space. A space to share with you my journey through motherhood, as I walk along the path of simple, mindful living. I invite you to join me as I learn and grow.